Rogers Media uses cookies for personalization, to customize its online advertisements, and for other purposes. Learn more or change your cookie preferences. Rogers Media supports the Digital Advertising Alliance principles. By continuing to use our service, you agree to our use of cookies.

We use cookies (why?) You can change cookie preferences. Continued site use signifies consent.

Can the Adaptation Be Better Than the Book? 18 New Ones We Can’t Wait to Watch

by FLARE Staff on
January 21, 2019, 09:01am. EDT

The Big Little Lies cast at the season 1 premiere (Photo: Getty)

Movies and TV shows based on books for 2019 include adaptations of classics—like the star-studded Catch-22 series and Greta Gerwig’s highly anticipated Little Women remake—as well as plenty of thrillers, superhero sagas and fantasy flicks. If you’re looking for something new to read this year, check out this list and pick up the book before watching the adaptation.

Movies based on books for 2019

The Rhythm Section (February 22)

Blake Lively and Jude Law star in this thriller, based on the first book in Mark Burnell’s Stephanie Patrick series. The film adaptation is by the producers behind the James Bond franchise and follows Patrick (Lively) as she searches for the truth behind a plane crash that killed her family.

If you love YA sci-fi series, you’ll probably want to check out this movie based on the first book in Patrick Ness’s Chaos Walking series. Starring Daisy Ridley and Joe Jonas, it’s set on a distant planetwhere everyone can hear each other’s thoughts.

Where’d You Go, Bernadette (March 22)

Richard Linklater (Boyhood) directs the adaptation of Maria Semple’s delightful novel centred on the quirky and creative Bernadette (Cate Blanchett) who goes missing from her Seattle home. Her husband and daughter travel to the end of the earth to find her.

Pet Sematary (April 5)

Just like It (and It 2, which is also due out this year), this Stephen King novel was filmed here in Canada—in and around Montreal, to be exact. If you’re an ardent cat lover, you might want to skip this horror movie.

TV shows based on books for 2019

The Passage (January 14, FOX)

Fans of The Walking Dead take note. This news series, loosely based on Justin Cronin’s The Passage, is about science tinkering with a virus that could cure every disease—or wipe out the entire human race.

A Discovery of Witches (January 17, Sundance Now/Shudder)

This British TV series is based on Deborah Harkness’s All Souls trilogy about the unlikely friendship between a witch and a vampire at the centre of a “supernatural battle.” It’s been out in the U.K. for a year, but it’s finally making its way across the pond.

The Umbrella Academy (February 15, Netflix)

Yes, this is a superhero show, but it’s set in an alternate universe outside of the Marvel and DC empires. It’s based on a graphic novel series by My Chemical Romance’s Gerard Way about, according to Netflix, “a dysfunctional family of superheroes who come together to solve the mystery of their father’s death, the threat of the apocalypse and more.” Canadian Ellen Page stars.

Game of Thrones season 8 (April 14, HBO)

Game of Thrones is finally back, but its return to the small screen is bittersweet—it’s the final season for this blockbuster show. But if you don’t watch, this is the last time you’ll ever have to hear about Dany and her dragons on Monday morning.

Big Little Lies season 2 (TBD, HBO)

Head back to Monterey for season two of this binge-worthy show loosely based on Liane Moriarty’s best-seller. Thanks to a sneak peek released during the Golden Globes, it looks like the upcoming season picks up right where the last one left off. But this time around, expect an appearance from Meryl Streep, who’s joining the already star-studded cast.

The book: Liane Moriarty penned the new season, but it’s different than her sequel to the original Big Little Lies book.

His Dark Materials (TBD, HBO)

Philip Pullman’s fantasy series is coming to the small screen thanks to the BBC (with worldwide distribution courtesy of HBO). Dafne Keen stars as Lyra; she’s joined by big names like James McAvoy, Ruth Wilson and Lin-Manuel Miranda.

Watchmen (TBD, HBO)

Sure, there’s a glut of superhero shows right now, but what’s one more? Especially one that’s based on Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons’ comic book series. The show, from HBO, is apparently set 10 years after the events in the graphic novels.